Musings of a young black weirdo

Posts tagged ‘antidepressants’

Do you ever notice how we’re supposed to be happy all the time? It seems like everywhere we turn, there are messages (from friends/family, on TV, in magazines, on the internet, etc.) that tell us we’re supposed to be happy all the time. But what’s wrong with being sad? Sure, it’s not a “fun” emotion to have. People that have fun and enjoy life aren’t sad.

Think about it, though. Everyone knows that one person who’s never sad, angry, frustrated, irritated, or “blah” feeling about anything. That one person is always happy and always flashing a HUGE smile. I don’t know about anyone else, but I always wonder what that person’s like when someone eats their last *insert favorite comfort food here* or forgets to call them back. What’s that person like when they get dumped or stressed? Does she (it’s almost always a she) scream into her pillow? Does she just hold it in? How does she release all those negative emotions so that she can be super happy the next time you see her walking to class?

I don’t think it’s healthy to be happy all the time. I just don’t. “Happy” is a good emotion to have, don’t get me wrong, but how do you become happy without being sad? You wouldn’t know what happy was if there wasn’t a complete opposite with which to compare. I actually worry about that one person that’s always happy, because holding all those negative emotions in is unhealthy.

Think of negative emotions like being sick. If you try to hold in sneezes, coughs, and other bodily fluids, you’ll actually do more harm than good. Going to school/work when you’re sick doesn’t help you get any better either. You might get other people sick trying to be productive. When you let everything out and give yourself time to FULLY heal, you’ll emerge from your emotions a stronger person ready to get back to business as usual.

Basically, what I’m trying to say is: it’s okay to be sad. It’s okay to be mad at the world some days, to be stressed out about school/work, or to be irritated because you have 3 boxes of cereal and no milk. Don’t try to hold it in because it doesn’t help anyone. When you get bitten by a snake, you have to suck all the venom out, right?

**Disclaimer: While venting emotions is very healthy, please, PLEASE don’t put all your problems on facebook, twitter, myspace, etc. No one wants to read a constant pity parade. Find a good friend/therapist/1-800 number to confide in. :)**